Christmas Carols, Crafts and a Competition at the Downe Hospital

18th December 2023

The angelic sounds of children’s choirs could be heard welcoming service users and visitors to the Downe Hospital’s Christmas fair on Friday, as the count down to the festive season gathered pace.

Children from Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary School and St Colmcille’s Primary School entertained guests with Christmas classics and carols. South Eastern Trust Chief Executive Roisin Coulter was on hand to judge the all- important hand-made Christmas tree competition.

“It was fantastic to see how we are keeping the heart in the Downe, celebrating this festive morning with our staff, service users and school children. We have had service users from Mountview Adult Resource Centre, Hollyview and Ardarragh Day Centre who have been selling and making lovely Christmas crafts. It has been a great start to the Christmas period. We have had our Christmas tree competition which has been created by every team and ward in the Downe. It is absolutely brilliant!”

Speaking on behalf of Estates Senior Operations Ian Bingham said it was good to be involved with the Christmas tree project. “We were all given a bit of raw material and the objective was to make something which reflects the work that you do. Just doing something for Christmas was great fun!”

Mental Health Business and Administrative Manager Nicola Maybin, explained of how the Christmas tree project started off small but, “Ended up with 20 trees! Everybody really embraced the Christmas spirit. There was a real good festive atmosphere throughout the hospital.”